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Does my camera work with SlingStudio?

There are a variety of cameras that can work with SlingStudio. Here's how to determine if yours might be compatible.

Does your camera work with SlingStudio? Here are some things to look at.

First: Check the list of cameras that Sling Media has tested with SlingStudio. Click the link at the bottom of this page for the article SlingStudio compatible camera list.

If your camera is not on this list, some quick tests can help determine if it works with SlingStudio:

  • Does the camera have an HDMI output?
    Your camera needs to have some kind of HDMI output. If it doesn't have that, but it does have an SDI output, then you could try to use an SDI to HDMI adapter to use the camera with SlingStudio. See the link below for more information.
  • Try it out
    Connect your camera's HDMI output to a TV or other video display. Can you get a clean HDMI output signal on the display?
    • (Clean HDMI means that the display just shows the image that you're pointing the camera at … with none of the extra items that you see in the camera's viewfinder/LCD, such as battery life or remaining video time.)
    • If you don't see a clean HDMI signal on the display, check if the camera offers that via some kind of setting or menu option.
  • Check for audio Does the TV or display play audio from the camera?

If you are able to see clean HDMI video on the TV or display, and you also hear an audio signal, then there is high likelihood that your camera works with SlingStudio.

Note: The Mevo camera lacks an HDMI-out port and therefore can't be used with SlingStudio.

Working with CameraLink

What if your camera passes the tests above, but you can't get it to work with the SlingStudio CameraLink device? (For example, you see a blank screen and/or a No Video Available message.)

Take a look at these things:

  • First things first: Make sure that your camera is powered on and the lens cap has been removed.
  • Make sure that your camera's HDMI output is set to any of these resolutions: 1080i, 1080p, or 720p.
  • Make sure that your camera's HDMI output supports frame rates of 29.97, 30, 59.94, or 60 frames per second (FPS). If your camera outputs different frame rates over its HDMI output, it is not supported.
  • Try using a different HDMI cable between the camera and the CameraLink. (Cables do sometimes have problems.)
  • Try connecting your camera directly to the SlingStudio itself by using the proper HDMI cable between your camera and the SlingStudio HDMI input port. In other words: Don't use the CameraLink. See if you get a signal that way.
    Note: Connecting your camera to a CameraLink device requires one kind of HDMI cable; connecting your camera to the SlingStudio unit requires a different HDMI cable. See below for more information.
  • If the camera works when it's connected directly to the SlingStudio unit, then perform a reset of the CameraLink device, and then re-pair it with the SlingStudio. There's more information about that below.
  • If the camera does not work when it's connected directly to the SlingStudio unit, try a different HDMI cable.
  • If that doesn't help, then there might be a problem with the camera. Please contact SlingStudio customer support team. Be sure that you can supply this information:
    • Camera Make/Model
    • HDMI output resolution
    • HDMI output frame rate of camera
    • Does it have clean HDMI?
    • Does it have audio over HDMI output?
    • Is the issue seen with CameraLink or direct HDMI input port or both?

Here's some additional information:

SlingStudio compatible camera list
How do I connect a camera with an SDI output but no HDMI?
HDMI connectors used with SlingStudio
How do I reset my CameraLink?
SlingStudio compatible device list